Chapter 1003: Chapter 998: Just as intended
After raising his head, Li Zhijie slowly spoke: “In that case, I shall wait for Zhou’s envoy to return to Dadu City, and then bid farewell to Your Majesty!”
With a faint smile, she nodded: “Alright…”
Chun Tao looked at Li Zhijie’s back, rubbing her hands continuously, appearing somewhat anxious.
It wasn’t until Li Zhijie stepped out of the grand hall, his figure completely vanishing from sight, that Bai Qingyan asked: “What’s the matter?”
Chun Tao hurriedly said to Bai Qingyan: “Miss, Mr. Xiao is here, asking to see you.”
In Chun Tao’s view, although Xiao Rongyan had helped the Bai family several times in difficult situations, he often acted too boldly, like a rogue who would dare to intrude into their lady’s boudoir.
However, Chun Tao had heard that it seems Miss had already gotten engaged to this Mr. Xiao, though she didn’t know if it was true. She had been abiding by the academy’s rules these days and hadn’t had the chance to ask Miss.
Chun Tao was a bit anxious, now that Miss had ascended the throne as emperor. If she truly was fond of Mr. Xiao, they should marry soon to avoid rumors.
Bai Qingyan hesitated for a moment, nodded, straightened up, adjusted her sleeves, and said: “Invite Mr. Xiao in.”
Chun Tao invited Xiao Rongyan into the hall, and just as she was about to follow, Wei Zhong stopped her: “Miss Chun Tao, we servants should not go in.”
When Chun Tao first arrived at the palace, Nanny Tong had instructed her that she was unfamiliar with palace rules and should assist Miss in everything, listening to Wei Zhong. Seeing the hall doors being closed by four young eunuchs, Chun Tao, though anxious, still nodded and stayed outside the door with Wei Zhong.
Inside the grand hall.
Bai Qingyan sat rigidly upright, watching as Xiao Rongyan, dressed in a frost-colored robe with a white jade belt, walked in from outside the hall and respectfully saluted her. Picking up a teacup, she spoke: “Sit!”
“Have you reached a consensus with Li Zhijie? Does he prefer to surrender to Zhou or to Yan?” Xiao Rongyan lifted his robes and walked toward Bai Qingyan.
“He is likely more inclined to negotiate with Rong, to ally with Rong against Zhou and the Yan Kingdom.” Bai Qingyan placed down the teacup.
Xiao Rongyan uncovered the matter of the ghost-masked prince of Rong being part of the Bai family; Xiao Rongyan planned to expose this in front of Li Zhijie and sent Yue Shi into the palace with a letter to Bai Qingyan.
At that time, Xiao Rongyan had already set things in motion.
Bai Qingyan was momentarily angry but quickly calmed herself. Getting angry was futile; she needed to quickly devise strategies and backup plans, consider how to turn the tide, and transform this situation into one beneficial for Zhou.
Subsequently, Bai Qingyan dispatched Lu Ping to speak with A Yu and inform them of the situation.
For Bai Qingyan, now that A Yu was already in Dadu City, even if A Yu’s identity as part of the Bai family were revealed in Rong, at worst, Zhou could dispatch troops to seize Rong by force.
Moreover, Rong has always respected strength; if the ghost-masked prince raises his arm, many will surely follow.
Now Yan, due to its alliance with Rong, cannot act against Xiliang, and naturally tries to cause Zhou trouble, hoping that within the next three years, Zhou and Rong clash, giving Xiliang a breather, allowing it to resist until Yan can act against Xiliang.
As Yan’s Ninth Prince, Xiao Rongyan’s actions were understandable.
She could understand Xiao Rongyan, but this made Bai Qingyan wary of him. Although Xiao Rongyan had repeatedly requested to see her lately, she had delayed the meeting, partly because she was busy implementing new laws and academy matters, and also because Bai Qingyan needed to readjust her strategy toward Yan.
Bai Qingyan once thought that wars cost soldiers’ lives and disrupted the people. Many of her new policies were derived from Empress Ji, but some of her views differed from Empress Ji, and due to Xiao Rongyan’s influence, her feelings toward the Yan Kingdom were different.
Her initial idea was, taking the policies of the two countries over five years as a basis, whichever nation’s policies strengthened the country and benefited the people more, the countries should unite under it, benefiting the populace and avoiding unnecessary soldier sacrifices.
But she forgot, the Murong family had been ruling the Yan Kingdom for generations, with ambitions to unify the world, their welfare for the people premised on Murong’s supreme rule.
Once naive, Bai Qingyan realized her mistake, stemming from her upbringing in the Bai family, taught to prioritize the people, while Xiao Rongyan, raised in the Imperial Family, was taught to stabilize imperial power and manage the court and the people.
Bai Qingyan was not afraid of setting the wrong strategy toward Yan; recognizing and correcting mistakes in time was crucial; this incident was a wake-up call for Bai Qingyan, prompting her to correct her strategy toward Yan, and she should bring this issue to light, having a profound discussion with Murong Yan, the Ninth Prince of Yan, in her capacity as Empress of Zhou.
Even if the Ninth Prince of Yan, Murong Yan, believes he can gain advantage over her and set her plan in motion, with a formal alliance, Zhou must prepare for a potential battle with Yan.
Xiao Rongyan took medicine from his chest for Bai Qingyan, placing it on the table before her, standing beside her, he said: “Kid, we once said… when facing major issues, do not weigh them with emotions. I am Yan’s Ninth Prince, prioritizing the Yan Kingdom’s interests, revealing this ghost-masked prince’s identity as part of the Bai family was beneficial for Yan, so I did it!”
“But sincerely ask yourself… I did not neglect the safety of the ghost-masked prince!” Xiao Rongyan thought Bai Qingyan hadn’t seen him these past days because she was angry, “Now the ghost-masked prince has control over all of Rong, whoever the King of Rong meets… whose voice he hears, all are under this ghost-masked prince’s control, you are troubled because of your care, too worried. You should trust in the Bai family’s abilities.”
“Furthermore, informing the Xiliang King Yan, Li Zhijie about this matter will either pressure Xiliang to submit to Yan or to Zhou, accelerating the unification of the world, even if not successful… it’s worth attempting, there’s no hurry to fight.” Xiao Rongyan spoke calmly.
Bai Qingyan put down the teacup in her hand: “Not seeing you these days was not due to anger, as Yan’s Ninth Prince, you did what benefitted Yan, understandable! As the Empress of Zhou, I must calmly adjust my strategy toward Yan, considering what strategy benefits Zhou! Please sit… let’s discuss, as Empress of Zhou and Yan’s Ninth Prince.”
Xiao Rongyan observed Bai Qingyan’s calm and peaceful gaze, free of emotional entanglement toward him.
Bai Qingyan was known to be resolute; Xiao Rongyan also felt the need to discuss this matter thoroughly with her, nodded: “I intended to do the same…”
“Then please, Ninth Prince, take a seat, and let’s discuss in detail.” Bai Qingyan said.
Xiao Rongyan nodded with a smile, then sat down below Bai Qingyan.